I put together this list a year ago at this time, but with Duke getting ready to play in the Belk Bowl against Cincinnati on Thursday, it’s even more appropriate now. So here, on the eve of the Blue Devils’ first postseason game since 1994, is a look back at the five most memorable moments in Duke’s short (but eventful) bowl history:

1. 1942 Rose Bowl, Oregon State 20, Duke 16

1942 Rose Bowl program

This game is best remembered because of where it was played, rather than what happened in the game. Scheduled to be held less than a month after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that sparked World War II, it was hastily moved to what is now known as Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham because of concerns over another potential attack on the West Coast. It remains the only Rose Bowl game not played in Pasadena. As for the game itself, the Blue Devils came in as a two-touchdown favorite, but the home field advantage was neutralized by a rainstorm that favored the visiting Beavers. Duke got its touchdowns on a first-half run by Steve Lach and a 40-yard pass from Bob Dethman to Gene Gray. It also scored on a safety. But even though the 15 points were the most Oregon State had given up all year, it still wasn’t enough to pull out the victory.

2, 1961 Cotton Bowl, Duke 7, Arkansas 6

Duke's 1961 Cotton Bowl champions

Arkansas’ Lance Alworth, who would go on to a Hall of Fame pro career with the San Diego Chargers, was the biggest star coming into the game. It was the Blue Devils’ unheralded Dave Unser, however, who made the biggest play of the day in this New Year’s classic. After Alworth had returned a Duke punt for a touchdown that gave the Razorbacks a 6-0 lead, Unser blocked the extra point kick to keep the door open for a comeback. The Blue Devils took advantage in the fourth quarter when Don Altman completed five passes to Tee Moorman during a drive that ended in the tying touchdown and winning extra point. A half century later, this remains Duke’s most recent bowl victory.

3. 1945 Sugar Bowl, Duke 29, Alabama 26

Gordon Carver

The Blue Devils dominated the stat sheet, outrushing the Crimson Tide 315-101, outgaining them 361-241 and picking up 21 first downs to only 8 for the opposition. But because of six fumbles and some spotty defense, Duke had to rally from a 19-7 deficit in a game that featured so many dramatic twists and turns, that the legendary sports writer Grantland Rice – who was there covering it –wrote that “The Sugar Bowl classic of 1945 must go down in the book as one of the greatest thrillers of all time.” George Clark scored the go-ahead touchdown for the Blue Devils on a 20-yard run with less than a minute remaining after Alabama’s strategy of taking an intentional safety moments earlier backfired. But even then, Duke had to hang on for dear life, literally, to preserve the win. With time left for one play, Alabama’s desperation pass was caught by Ralph Jones, who broke into the clear with only one man to beat for the potential game-winning touchdown. But that one man, Duke safety Gordon Carver, managed to grab Jones’ leg and bring him down 24 yards short of the end zone as the gun sounded.

4. 1955 Orange Bowl, Duke 34, Nebraska 7

Duke's 1955 Orange Bowl trophy

Still stinging from a decision that sent Maryland to the Orange Bowl instead of them in the inaugural season of the ACC a year earlier, the Blue Devils took their frustrations out on the Cornhuskers. Behind the running of Bob Pascal, Bryant Aldridge and Jerry Barger, Duke rolled to an easy victory that capped an 8-2-1 season. The Blue Devils finished the game with an impressive 23-6 edge in first downs and a 370 to 110 advantage in total offensive yardage. Pascal rushed for 91 yards on nine carries in the game while Barger completed seven of his nine passes. Duke ended the season ranked 14th.

5. 1995 Hall of Fame Bowl, Wisconsin 30, Duke 24

Duke's most recent bowl game

The game that is now known as the Outback Bowl remains the most recent bowl game in which the Blue Devils have played. Duke was a decided underdog against a Badger team that had played in the Rose Bowl the previous season, but it held its own for most of the game after interceptions on two of its first three possessions created an early 13-0 deficit. RB Robert Baldwin held the Blue Devils rally to tie the score before halftime, but despite a strong performance from QB Spence Fischer, Duke couldn’t contain Wisconsin RB Terrell Fletcher, who rushed for 241 and three touchdowns – including the clinching 39-yarder in the fourth quarter – to earn the game’s MVP trophy.